Yukio Baba’s champion Asia Express sat just off the pace in Sunday’s $750, 000 Leopard Stakes (G3) at Niigata Racecourse, took over a furlong from the wire and drew off to a 3-1/2 length victory. It’s the second graded stakes win for the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Henny Hughes, voted Japan’s champion two-year-old colt in 2013. The latest OBS graduate to top the million dollar mark in earnings, he’s now 7-4-1-0 with estimated U.S. earnings of over $1.4-million. He was purchased by Narvick International for $230,000 from breeder Ocala Stud at the 2013 OBS March Sale after working a quarter in :21 flat at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
watch Asia Express (13) win the Leopard Stakes (G3)
Margaret & David Wimer’s Harlan’s Honor led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Sunday’s $61,200 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park, taking the lead at the start and never looking back en route to a four length victory. Perpetual Novena (March ’14, August ’13) was second, half a length ahead of late running Nicky’s Brown Miss (March ’14). That’s two wins in three trips to the post for the 2-year-old daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, who has earned $63,250 to date. After an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show, she was purchased for $165,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2014 OBS April Sale. watch her under tack video
Gulliver Racing LLC, J.K. Houssels, Jr. and Schroeder Farms LLC’s Master the Blues tried stakes company for the first time in Friday’s $96,560 Daisycutter Stakes at Del Mar and was up in the final yards to beat fellow OBS graduate Kinz Funky Monkey (April ’12) by a neck. It’s the sixth win in nine starts this year for the 5-year-old mare by Mater Command, sold for $27,000 by Andy Cant, Agent at the 2011 OBS April Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5. The first stakes victory gives her a 19-7-2-3 record and $181,320 in earnings. watch her under tack video
Clyde Rice’s Champagne Ruby had to wait for running room in Saturday’s $50,000 Niagara Stakes at Finger Lakes, but shook loose in mid-stretch and then drew away late to win by 2-3/4 lengths. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of Utopia (JPN), now 11-3-2-1 with earnings of $142,335. She was sold for $5,000 by Carapan Farm LLC (Ed & Diane Gregory) at the 2012 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
Loooch Racing Stable, Inc.’s Caviar N Champagne had to battle for the lead in Sunday’s $50,000 Vicacious Handicap at Belterra Park, but once she got it, the 5-year-old Formal Dinner mare opened up five lengths and then coasted home a 2-3/4 length winner. It’s her fifth stakes score, and leaves her with a 29-9-6-4 record and $295,404 in earnings. She was sold for $13,000 by Lynne Boutte, Agent, at the 2010 OBS August Sale.